Contents

Plot

The gang is seen on a ship to Pacifidlog Town. Ash has all the Hoenn badges and needs to train well for it. May reminds him she also has 4 ribbons, so she needs to go get the final ribbon. Ash reports to Prof. Oak via the computer in a Pokémon Center, who is surprised and delighted about Ash's eight badges. Ash promises to work hard before the Hoenn League. Ash goes away to train, as he tells to Brock he has *only* 3 months. May decides to follow in his footsteps to train for the Contest, so she begins by cleaning up the Poké Balls. A Pokémon watches her from the bush.

May has cleaned the Poké Balls up and goes to put them in her bag, but sees Beautifly and Bulbasaur are missing. Brock and Max suspect Team Rocket is behind this - and Team Rocket react by looking at an upset May. Team Rocket is somewhat angered, but sad when they did not catch anything yet. Brock spots some footprints, so they go to find the thief. Ash found a good spot to train, but notices something approaching. It sends him and Pikachu flying away - it is a very fast Linoone.

May stomps on Ash, as she did not see him. Ash tells them a Linoone ran over with big cheeks, so May knows Linoone must be the thief. Brock remembers that Linoone usually run straight over, so they go. They reach a house where Linoone's steps end. Inside, a boy throws an old Poke Ball. The gang asks him if he saw a Linoone near, so the boy starts apologizing, as Tokin, his Linoone, stole (again) the Poke Balls. The boy's parents come, greeting the gang. The family introduces themselves - Kimmy, Harmony and Calvin. The gang introduces themselves as well. Kimmy takes them to a place - a place with many round objects Linoone has gathered.

Kimmy tells them he threw Token (when it was a Zigzagoon) the Poké Ball to catch it. However, when it evolved into Linoone, it started to take round objects, even from other people. Ash remembers his Charizard - he told him that he was meaning well just as he did. Charizard showed more respect to Ash after that event. May searched in the stash and did not found her Poké Balls. Kimmy tells her sometimes Token places stuff in the mountains. However, they are very frustrated to hear that Token could've hidden the Poké Balls anywhere in the trees. The search starts - everyone does not find anything, but Harmony found her ring, so they are very happy. Pikachu found something - May is terrified to have a bone in her hands. Max tells Ash that if Marowak or Cubone have the item, they are more powerful. Also, they find a Sooth Bell - the Pokémon will have more attack. Also, a Dragon Fang is seen - good for a Dragon type Pokémon.

Brock tells May that they'll find her Pokémon and says that Linoone has the Pickup ability - an ability to get more rare stuff. Team Rocket is thrilled to hear this and think that Linoone will get presents to the boss. The gang searches more and Kimmy spots Token on a cliff and tells it to get the Balls back. Token refuses to and is captured by Team Rocket. Kimmy goes to get Token, so Jessie sends Seviper who uses Haze. Kimmy does not see a rock and falls, so Token drops May's Poké Balls. Kimmy is injured and May takes the Poké Balls back. Pikachu goes to help Token, so James sends Cacnea. Pikachu cuts the net using Iron Tail. Seviper uses Poison Tail, but Pikachu dodges and hops to its head. Linoone is seen to be with Kimmy, who is okay. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, blasting them off. However, the smoke clears and Team Rocket are not blasted off.

They capture Pikachu using the net, so Ash goes after him, but they are too far away. Kimmy apologizes to Ash for going to save Token and Pikachu got captured. Ash tells him not to worry. Linoone spots Team Rocket's balloon shaped like a Poké Ball. Kimmy recalls that he did throw the Poké Ball for Token to fetch to play, so Brock concludes it wants round objects to play with. Kimmy tells Linoone to go after the baloon, so it jumps, landing on the balloon itself. Meowth tells Jessie and James it could pop the baloon, so Cancea uses Needle Arm on Linoone. Of course, Linoone evaded and Cacnea popped the balloon. Before they go to the ground, Linoone cut the net and Pikachu and it came to the ground. Kimmy promises to play with Linoone again.

Team Rocket is not yet satisifed, so Seviper goes to attack with Poison Tail. Cacnea uses Needle Arm, so Token uses Water Pulse, knocking Seviper and Cacnea out. Seviper and Cacnea clash (due to their confusion), so they begin to attack Jessie, James and Meowth - Cacnea uses Pin Missile and Seviper Haze. Pikachu and Linoone use Thunderbolt, blasting them off. Kimmy promises to play with Linoone more, so it may not steal from other people. Kimmy throws his old Poké Ball, so Linoone gets it.